Written answers
Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Departmental Bodies
Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
107. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of positions on each board in respect of agencies under the remit of her Department in tabular form; the quorum required for a board meeting for each agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38188/21]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I can advise the deputy that currently 20 State Boards come under the remit of the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the table below outlines the maximum number of positions on each board, the current membership and the number of existing vacancies. Quorums for each of the boards are outlined in the relevant legislation, Articles of Association or Standing Orders, please see appendix I for more information.
Appendix I -
| State Board | Direction | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Council | The Arts Act 2006 | 16 (6) Subject to subsection (2), the quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be 5. |
| Broadcasting Authority of Ireland | The Broadcasting Act 2009 | 13 (7) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be 5. |
| BAI Compliance Committee | The Broadcasting Act 2009 | 13 (9) The quorum for a meeting of the Compliance Committee shall be 5 of which 2 shall be members appointed by the Government under section 8 (6) (a). |
| BAI Contract Awards Committee | The Broadcasting Act 2009 | 13 (8) The quorum for a meeting of the Contract Awards Committee shall be 5 of which 2 shall be members appointed by the Government under section 8 (4) (a). |
| Crawford Art Gallery | Companies Act 1963 - 2003 Under the Articles of Association of the Crawford Art Gallery | 4. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum if members entitled to vote is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; save as herein otherwise provided, four members present in person shall be a quorum. |
| Fáilte Ireland | National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 | 18 (6) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall, unless the Minister otherwise directs, be 5. |
| Foras na Gaeilge | Standing Order for Foras na Gaeilge Board Members | Standing Order (h) The quorum for a Board Meeting will be one third of Board Members entitled to attend at the whole or any aspect of the meeting. If Board Members have to withdraw from the meeting due to a conflict of interest the quorum therefore is set at one third of those members entitled to continue to participate in the meeting. |
| Irish Manuscripts Commission | Companies Act 1963 - 2003 Under the Articles of Association of the Irish Manuscripts Commission Limited | 11. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business; save as herein otherwise provided, five members present in person shall be a quorum. |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | Companies Act 1963 - 2003 Under the Articles of Association of the Irish Museum of Modern Art | 9. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business save as herein otherwise provided; five members present in person shall be a quorum. |
| National Concert Hall | National Cultural Institutions (NCH) Act 2015 | 13 (6) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be 4. |
| National Gallery of Ireland | National Gallery Act 1854 – Standing orders for NGI Board Members | 5 members are required to conduct ordinary business, while 9 members are required to approve acquisitions of art. |
| National Library of Ireland | National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 | 22 (3) The quorum for a meeting of the Board of the Library shall be 5 or such other greater number as may be determined from time to time by the Board of the Library. |
| National Museum of Ireland | National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 | 22 (4) The quorum for a meeting of the Board of the Museum shall be 6 or such other greater number as may be determined from time to time by the Board of the Museum. |
| RTE | The Broadcasting Act 2009 | 88 (6) The quorum for a meeting of the board of a corporation shall be 7. |
| Screen Ireland | Irish Film Board Act 1980 | 15 (7) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall, unless the Minister directs otherwise, be three. |
| Sport Ireland | Sports Ireland Act 2015 | 5 (2) The quorum for a meeting of Sport Ireland, unless the Minister otherwise directs, shall be 5. |
| TG4 | The Broadcasting Act 2009 | 88 (6) The quorum for a meeting of the board of a corporation shall be 7. |
| Tourism Ireland | Standing orders for Tourism Ireland Board Members | not less than 4, of which not less than 2 shall be nominees of each relevant Minister |
| Údarás Na Gaeltachta | Údaras na Gaeltachta Act 1979 | 10 (2) The quorum for a meeting of an tÚdarás shall be the lowest majority of the number of members of an tÚdarás at the time of the meeting. |
| Ulster Scots Agency | Standing orders for Ulster Scots Agency Board Members | Quorum based on 50%+1 of current membership |
The majority of vacancies on State Boards under the remit of this Department are filled using the established Public Appointments Service (PAS) process. This process is in place since 2014 following a Government decision that PAS should also be given responsibility for putting in place an open, accessible, rigorous and transparent system to support Ministers in making appointments to State Boards.The dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, is the channel through which the PAS advertises vacancies on State Boards.It is also the means through which accomplished, experienced and qualified people, including people who might not previously have been identified as available for appointment, can apply to be considered for particular vacancies.
You will note from the information below, that a large number of campaigns are being progressed by my Department and PAS to address current and pending vacancies.
| State Board | No. Positions | Total | Current Vacancies | Quorum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts Council | 13 | 12 | -1 | 5 | 3 |
| Broadcasting Authority of Ireland | 9 | 8 | -1 | 5 | 2 |
| BAI Compliance Committee | 8 | 7 | -1 | 5 | 5 |
| BAI Contract Awards Committee | 8 | 6 | -2 | 5 | 5 |
| Crawford Art Gallery | 12 | 12 | 0 | 4 | |
| Fáilte Ireland | 13 | 10 | -3 | 5 | 3 |
| Foras na Gaeilge | 16 | 16 | 0 | 6 | |
| Irish Manuscripts Commission | 20 | 14 | -6 | 5 | 1 |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | 12 | 11 | -1 | 5 | 3 |
| National Concert Hall | 9 | 8 | -1 | 4 | 3 |
| National Gallery of Ireland | 17 | 16 | -1 | 5 | 3 |
| National Library of Ireland | 12 | 6 | -6 | 5 | 1 |
| National Museum of Ireland | 16 | 13 | -3 | 6 | 3 |
| RTE | 12 | 8 | -4 | 7 | 4 |
| Screen Ireland | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | |
| Sport Ireland | 13 | 9 | -4 | 5 | 1 |
| TG4 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 7 | |
| Tourism Ireland | 13 | 13 | 0 | 4 | |
| Údarás Na Gaeltachta | 12 | 12 | 0 | 6 | |
| Ulster Scots Agency | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | |
| Totals | 254 | 220 | -34 |
1. Appointments pending from a panel of suitable candidates identified through the PAS process;
2. PAS process under way to identify new Chair;
3. PAS campaign in preparation;
4. Vacancies currently being filled on foot of nominations from the Joint Oireachtas Committee;
5. BAI Board nominations to follow appointment of a new Chair.
No comments